Sugar-cane harvester.



J. T. NEBDHAM. SUGAR CANE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED I EB. 26, 1908.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. T. NEEDHAM.

SUGAR CANE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED P-EB.26, 1908. 985,440, Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2 WITNESJEZ S JOSEPH THOMAS NEEDI-IAM, OF HERBERTON, NORTHQUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.

SUGAR-CANE HARVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26, 1908.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911. Serial No. 417,884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr Trioaias NEED- innr, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Hcrberton, North Queensland,in the Commonwealth of Australia, (temporarily residing in Melbourne,Australia) have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSugar-Cane Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved sugar cane harvester which cutsthe stools of cane near the root, then. elevates it on to a platform ortable whereon the cane is so placed that its top portion is broughtunder a. drop knife which severe the tops from the stalks.

The harvester is operated and propelled by horse power, each horse beingprotected from contact with the cane by means of a guard or fenderarranged about it and the front portion of which is so constructed thatit lifts and guides the fallen cane to a position in front of the kniveswhich cut it off at its stools as before stated, also the guards form apassage way for the horses between the rows of cane.

The invention will now be fully described aided by a reference to theaccompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevationand Fig. 2 a plan of the improved sugar cane harvester and Fig. 3 anenlarged back end view showing the knife and block for cutting the topsfrom the cane stalks. Fig. t is a detail plan of the operating gear forthe chopping block, Fig. 5 an enlarged detail sectional view of the canecutting knives and Fig. 6 a transverse section on line 0000 Fig. 5.

In constructing a sugar cane harvester according to this invention thefront portion A of machine to which the horses are attached is built upin the form of two fenders or guards constructed of suitable frame work,the sides of which are covered'with light laths spaced at a suitabledistance apart, the front part A of said fenders being hinged at a tothe rear portion A so that it can be raised to allow of the horses beingbacked into the fender A, said front portion A is constructed as shownso that when the machine is being drawn forward by the horses the fallencane is lifted and a passage way formed between each row of stools ofcane and at same time direct the stalks on to the cutting knives B. Saidfender A is provided with a land wheel A and is connected at a to theconveyor and knife carriage G and is furnished with the necessary drafthooks and the like for attaehn'ient to the tug chains.

The cane cutting knives B are situated at the front bottom end of thecarriage C and are angularly arranged, one above the other, as shown inFigs. 2 and 5, while they receive a reciprocating motion by cranks Z) ona transverse shaft B carried in hearings on the bottom side beam of saidcarriage C. Said crank shaft 13 receives motion by a sprocket chain bfrom asprocket wheel If on a counter shaft 13 which in turn is driven bya sprocket chain o from a sprocket wheel 0 secured on the main axle Csaid carriage C is borne on four wheels, two large hind wheels C and twosmall front wheels (j and is furnished with a seat for driver (notshown).

The conveyer or elevator D which re ceives the cut cane from the knivesB is ar ranged as shown in Fig. 1 and consists of 'an endless travelingbelt passing over rollers (Z driven by sprocket chain (Z from a sprocketwheel (Z on main axle C The cane is delivered by the elevator orconveyer D on to a platform or table E which is arranged. at the desiredangle at the top of a suitable frame work E the draw bar E of said frameI connected by a king pin 6 to the main axle G of the conveyor orelevator carriage G. The rear end of said frame F is carried on largeland wheels Ff, the axle 13* of which is carried in suitable bearingsattached to the bottom side beams of said frame. Arranged centrallyabove the axle F1 is a revolving chopping block F suitably supportedthcrcat and arranged at about a level with the rear end of said platformor table. Said chopping block F is rotated by means of a ratchet wheel Fwhich is operated by a sliding ratchet bar F attached to the slidinghalf Gr of a toothed cam arranged to slide on the axle E the other halfG of said cam being keyed or otherwise secured on said axle E By therotation of the axle E the sliding half G of said cam is forced outwardby the fixed half G and then returned to its normal position by aid of acoil or other spring G as the jaws of the cam come into contact. By thismeans the ratchet wheel. F and chopping block F is rotatedinteri'nittently by the ratchet bar T At each revolution of the axle Ethe block F is rotated one half of a revolution while to retain theblock stationary during the chopping operation a vertical bar or rod Gprojects up from the sliding cam piece G and is designed to take into aslotted lug f secured to the under side of block F at each halfrevolution. Arranged above the said chopping block E is a drop knife Hwhich is connected to cross bars H which slide in slots it formed instandards H arranged one at each side.

Vertical lifting rods H are connected at their upper ends to the crossbars H while the lower end of each lifting rod is furnished withfriction roller ]L]' which contacts with a two winged lifting cam Hsecured on the axle E* and which cam lifts the knife H and allows it todrop and cut off the tops of the cane. Said tops are then removed fromthe block, in one direction transversely by vertical pins l1 projectingtherefrom, and delivered to the near side of the machine while thestalks of cane are removed from the block in the opposite directiontransversely by said pins 71 and delivered to the otf side of themachine during the rotation of said block, such removal being aided bythe man in attendance and standing on platform I.

Suitable platforms I are arranged one at each side of said framing E toallow an attendant to stand and arrange the cane in proper positionunder the drop knife which severs the tops from the stalks.

Having now cescribed my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A harvester comprising cutting knives, aconveyer for receiving the material from the knives, and a fenderentirely inclosing the horse at the sides connected to the front of theharvester for directing the material to be cut toward the knives.

2. A harvester comprising cutting knives, means for receiving thematerial therefrom, a pair of fenders entirely inclosing the horse atthe sides and connected to the front of the machine and having meansthereon for directing the material to be out toward the knives, and afront carrying wheel on each fender.

3. In combination with a harvester, a fender having a movable frontportion-and a body portion entirely inclosing the horse at the sides,and a carrying wheel on the bottom portion of said movable portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH THOMAS NEEDHAM.

lVitnesses:

BEDLINGTON Bonroonn, JOHN Dnnnninon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

